Vacuum cleaner



H. C. LILLY VACUUM CLEANER Oct. 31, 1950 Filed May 20, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HOMQRD 6. Lazy 9770A. EV

H. C. LILLY VACUUM CLEANER Oct. 31, 1950 Filed May 20, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HOWARD 6f LILLY FITTO/P EV Patented Oct. 31, 1950 VACUUM CLEANER Howard C. Lilly, Sharon, Mass, assignor to Masury-Young, Company, Charlestown, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application-May 20, 1947, Serial No. 749,123

1 Claim. 1

My present invention relates to vacuum cleaners to be used in homes, shops, offices, factories, and the like, and in circumstances where a great deal of moisture may be collected in the operation of the machine.

In carrying out my invention I provide a cylindrical stream-lined housing or casing within which the removable filter bag for the dirt, dust, H

lint, etc. and the removable receptacle for the water, as well as all working parts of the machine, are contained and shielded.

The construction is such as to permit ready removal and replacement of the filter bag and water receptacle as well as convenient access to the working parts of the machine for inspection or repair, and moveover is such that injury to the working parts, due to an excess accumulation of water in the water receptacle, is positively prevented.

In my vacuum cleaner, whenever the water accumulates to a predetermined level, a valve is automatically actuated to shut off the supply of air to the suction-fan or turbine so as to prevent any more water being sucked into the machine and thus signal the operator that the water receptacle requires emptying.

One object of my invention therefore is an improved vacuum cleaner.

Another object is an improved means for protecting the working parts against damage by the accumulation of water in the enclosing tank.

Other objects and novel features of the construction and arrangements of parts comprising theapparatus willappear as the description of the invention progresses,

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention:

uum cleaner embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

. 2 provided with a plurality of casters II on the lower face thereof by means of which the base Ill and all parts carried thereby and mounted thereon may be moved from place to place with the minimum of effort.

. These. casters are variously arranged about the base so as to provide a stable support for the machine and a pilot caster is also provided for more stable support.

About the periphery of the base are secured, as by welding, angle members I2. Secured to the outer surface of the angle members I2, as by rivets I3, is a cylindrical casing I 4 of the same diameter internall as the annular base I0. The length or height of such casing I4 may be as great as desired, and one or more bumpers I5 may be arranged circumferentially about the casing M at any desired place or places thereon.

Mounted within the casing Id and concentric therewith, and with its lower end resting on the base I0 is a water tank I6. The upper edge of tank is is preferably parallel to and located below the upper edge of the casing I4.

The casing I4 and tank IE define an annular closure, assumes an annular shape, as shown in Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a vac- Figure 3 is a sectional plan view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the connection between the power head and the filter bag, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the improved means for clamping the power head to the casing and tank, the detail of the power head and casing being shown in section. 7

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a base II] of sheet metal and annular in form which is Fig. 3 One end of such filter bag 2i is permanently closed by a line of stitching 22 and the other end is temporarily closed by a spring clamp 23. Intermediate the ends of the filter bag. 2I, that is, on the opposite side thereof from the ends, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, is an inlet 24 for dirt, dust, or the like, which is oval in cross section, as viewed in Fig. 3, and fits into, and through a coupling member (see Fig, 4) is secured thereto by a compression ring 25. The coupling member 25 is provided with grooved ears 2'! which engage with the rings I8 andfIS to hold the inlet 24 in operative position.

Mounted on the top or open end of the casing M is a power head 28 provided on its peripheral edge with a downwardly extending flange 29 and on its lower peripheral edge with a gasket 30. Removably secured to the upper face of the power head 28 is a hood 3i defining a chamber 32. Diametrically arranged in the power head 28 and which pass shafts 34 each carrying a locking cam 35 at its lower end and within the interior of the casing l4, and each carrying an operating handle 36 at its upper end and above the hood 3|. Secured to the upper end of the casing [4 in operative relation to the cams 3-5 are stops 31. By means of this construction the power head 28 and hood 3| may be locked to or removed from the casing [4.

In the center of the power head 28 is a central opening closed by a plate 38 forming part of a motor 39, the shaft 44 of which extends downwardly and has mounted thereon a fan or turbine 4| which is rotatable in a, chamber 42 formed in the power head. An outlet passage 43 leads from chamber 42 and terminates in an extending passage formed in the downwardly extending member 43 which fits into the coupling member 25 (see Fig. 4).

Also formed in the power head 28 is a passageway 44 terminating in an elbow 45 which extends through the hood 3! and to which may be attached a hose 45 leading from the suction nozzle used by the operator.

The chamber 42 is closed by plate 4'! provided with a centrally arranged intake passage 48 connecting the interior of the tank l with the turbine chamber 42.

Secured to the plate 47 about the periphery of the intake passage 48 and extending downwardly are bars or rods 49, which preferably are formed integral at their lower ends with a three armed member 555. At the meeting point or hub of the member 58 is mounted an upwardly extending shaft '5! on which is slidably mounted a sleeve 52 carrying at its lower end a float 53 and at its upper end a valve 54. The valve 54 is adapted under certain conditions to contact with the lower end of the intake passage 48 and seal ofi the turbine chamber 42 from the interior of the tank l5.

In ordinary operation of the device, when the motor 39 is running, the turbine 4! draws air from the suction nozzle (not shown) used by the operator, through the hose 46, elbow passage 44, tank I6, and forces such air through the outlet 43 and into the filter bag 2 i. After passing through the filter bag, the air is discharged from the device through one or more outlets 55 at the bottom of the annular chamber. Bag 2| is removed and emptied from time to time as required.

Under some conditions, as when the apparatus is used to clean places where there is an excess of moisture, the same is drawn in through the hose 46 and elbow 45 into the tank l6, where it condenses and builds up in the tank. Unless the apparatus is carefully serviced, the accumulation of water soon reaches the stage where water might be drawn up by the turbine 4| and forced into the filter bag, resulting in damage to the apparatus and ruin of the filter bag.

To avoid such contingency I have provided the valve 54 operable by the float 53 so that when the water in the tank l6 reaches a dangerous height, the float 53 automatically moves the valve 54 upwardly into engagement with the rim of the intake passage 48, thus shutting. off the supply of air for the turbine and creating such a condition of non-operation of the apparatus as to signal the operator that the tank requires emptying.

In my present apparatus, all working parts are accessibly housed in a stream-lined casing, safe against accident, and incapable of causing damage to either the operator or objects among which the apparatus is being used.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that the construction may be variously changed within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a base, a tank centrally mounted thereon, a housing surrounding said tank and forming therewith an annular chamber, a filter bag housed in said annular chamber, a power head mounted on the top of said tank and said housing, power means carried in said power head to force air from the tank into and through the filter bag located in the annular chamber, there being a normally open passage extending between the tank and the power means in the power head for permitting free passage of air to the filter bag, and a valve carried by the power head within the tank for closing the normally open passage upon the accumulation of a predetermined amount of water in the tank.

HOWARD C. LILLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,336 Bible June 22, 1943 1,573,771 McClatchie Feb. 16, 1926 1,880,665 Barker Oct. 4, 1932 2,064,988 Risser Dec. 22, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,842 Great Britain May 23, 1903 584,997 France Dec. 1, 1924 

